Iraq Condemns Burning of Quran in Copenhagen, Says Danish Mission Staff Have Left Baghdad

Demonstrations have raged across Iran and Iraq after Denmark and Sweden allowed the burning of the Quran under rules protecting free speech. (EPA)
Demonstrations have raged across Iran and Iraq after Denmark and Sweden allowed the burning of the Quran under rules protecting free speech. (EPA)
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Iraq Condemns Burning of Quran in Copenhagen, Says Danish Mission Staff Have Left Baghdad

Demonstrations have raged across Iran and Iraq after Denmark and Sweden allowed the burning of the Quran under rules protecting free speech. (EPA)
Demonstrations have raged across Iran and Iraq after Denmark and Sweden allowed the burning of the Quran under rules protecting free speech. (EPA)

Iraq condemned the burning of a copy of the holy Quran in front of its embassy in Denmark on Monday and said Danish staff at the embassy in Baghdad had left Iraq after protests there.

Demonstrations have raged across Iran and Iraq after Denmark and Sweden allowed the burning of the Quran under rules protecting free speech. Protesters in Iraq set the Swedish embassy in Baghdad alight on Thursday.

Two anti-Islam protesters set fire to a copy of Islam's holy book in front of the Iraqi embassy in the Danish capital on Monday.

Iraq's foreign ministry called on authorities of EU countries to "quickly reconsider so-called freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate".

Protesters gathered in Baghdad on Saturday amid heavy security, with bridges leading to the Green Zone that houses many foreign embassies shut after an attempt by demonstrators to get to the Danish Embassy.

An Iraqi foreign ministry spokesperson said Danish staff at the embassy had left Iraq two days ago.

He did not elaborate on the reason or the exact timing and the Danish government did not immediately comment.



Egypt’s Sisi Warns Israeli Operations Threaten the Region

09 December 2021, Egypt, Cairo: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati (L) meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Presidential Palace in Cairo. (Dalati & Nohra/dpa)
09 December 2021, Egypt, Cairo: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati (L) meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Presidential Palace in Cairo. (Dalati & Nohra/dpa)
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Egypt’s Sisi Warns Israeli Operations Threaten the Region

09 December 2021, Egypt, Cairo: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati (L) meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Presidential Palace in Cairo. (Dalati & Nohra/dpa)
09 December 2021, Egypt, Cairo: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati (L) meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Presidential Palace in Cairo. (Dalati & Nohra/dpa)

Egypt’s president warned that Israeli military operations in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon are pushing the region to the brink and called for international action.

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, one of the mediators between Israel and Hamas, called for “an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire” in both Gaza and Lebanon amid an unprecedented escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.

His remarks came after Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday.

His comments came in a phone call late Saturday with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, according to a statement from the Egyptian president’s office. He also gave orders to send medical and humanitarian aid to Lebanon immediately.

Along with the United States and Qatar, Egypt has for months spearheaded negotiations between Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza.

But negotiations have repeatedly stalled amid mounting fear of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas. Diplomats see a ceasefire in Gaza as the best way to avert a regional war.